
This post is intended to be a mini Eight of Wands Tarot Guide. It is important to mention that the longer you work with the cards the more you will discover how they speak to you. For example, the Eight of Wands does have a theme and traditional meaning but I recommend leaving “space” for the card to speak to you. Over time, you may discover that the card represents unique insights or themes for you personally.
Suit of Wands Summary

Numerology of the #8 – Themes
- The Number 8 is the energy of the achiever, business sense, fortitude, balance, standing in our own power, and a drive for success.
- Positives of the Number 8 are ambition, goal-oriented, accomplishment, karmic balance, endurance, capable, patient and determination.
- Negatives of the Number 8 are materialistic, overly focused on personal reward, authoritative, dismissive of the views of others, entitled and ignoring rules and processes.
Eight of Wands Tarot – Upright Meaning
- Associated with Mercury, Mutable / Sagittarius energy.
- The card of ACTION.
- This card is a double dose of fire so it represents fiery ambition, directing will, intention and energy. There is progressive action from aiming and shooting. This forward progress is likely in the area of career, work or personal creative projects.
- Good karma or welcome events are coming. A choice has been made. Forces are in motion.
- If receiving a message, the querent will receive news or information that will propel the project or situation forward.
- New ideas are very promising.
- Speed and swiftness! When the 8 of Wands appears, it tells that things will happen really fast. If someone has an active life to begin with, then it means the person will either continue at their same rate or will be busier than normal. The challenge is that because of the speed, they may be brasher or rudely direct with others or they may be short tempered.
Shadow Side of the Eight of Wands
- There are a few interpretations of the reversed 8 of wands to consider based on the context of the reading
- There is inaction, a challenge or obstacle that is preventing forward progress.
- The querent could be procrastinating and taking a back seat in their life? Not taking action is still an action so consider what might be holding you back. Consider what intentions you can set and any aligned actions you can take.
- It could mean that the action the querent IS taking is hasty, rushed and not well thought through. In this case, the querent may not hit the target they were aiming for. The outcome is more uncertain.
- The querent may receive bad news about something they are working on.
- It is time for the querent to be cautious and patient – this is not a time to rush into something.
- There may be people in the querent’s life who are jealous of them and they need to be careful.
Where to Find the Tarot Decks In Pinterest Pins Linked to this Post
- The Dark Wood Tarot by Sasha Graham
- Tarot Familiars by Lo Scarabeo
- Oraculum Leviathan: Draconian Tarot Deck & Grimoire by Asenath Mason and Bill Duvendack
- Tarot Apokalypsis Deck by Kim Huggins and Eric C. Dunne
- Tarot of Pagan Cats by Lo Scarabeo
- Light Seer’s Tarot Deck by Chris-Anne
- Tarot of the Ages by Mario Garizio
Artist Attribution
Featured Photo by Matt Perkins on Unsplash
References
- My own experience
- The Dark Wood Tarot by Sasha Graham
- Holistic Tarot: An Integrative Approach to Using Tarot for Personal Growth by Benebell Wenn
Disclaimer
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